Product Description
A richly decorated Japanese Meiji period (1868–1912) Satsuma tea set by master potter Hayakawa, showcasing the celebrated millefleur (“thousand flowers”) pattern. Every surface is meticulously hand-painted in a dazzling profusion of chrysanthemums, peonies and gilt scrollwork, highlighted with raised moriage enamels and lavish gold accents.
The service comprises 15 pieces: a teapot (approx. 15 cm high), covered sugar bowl (11.5 cm), cream jug (11.5 cm), and six cups (5 cm high) with matching saucers (12 cm diameter). All pieces are fine earthenware with a creamy crackle glaze typical of high-quality Satsuma, and retain vivid colours with only minor age wear to the interiors of some cups.
This set embodies the refined artistry of late-19th-century Kyoto workshops, when Satsuma ware achieved international acclaim at world expositions. Its millefleur design—symbolising longevity and prosperity—combined with the sought-after Hayakawa signature makes it both a superb display centrepiece and a significant collectible for Japanese art connoisseurs.